No.4December 2012

EDITORIAL: Discovery of a New Beginning NEWS: Training for job qualification and first aid PROJECTS:in community PROFILE: Sorin Lazăr, Mihaela Adam, Daniela Mirea EMPLOYEES: Ioan Lasc,

Ioana Rădulescu, Dana Lata, Florin Raba INVOLVEMENT: P.O.R.C. – The Winners 2012

28 pages

2 3No. 4 - December 2012

The magic of holiday seasons gives us the opportunity to be cordial both to our fam-ily at home and our family at work. It is important to remember, especially now

when holidays are coming, the appreciation we all have for our family, colleagues, customers and partners, and for those who have been close to us in this ending year.

I want to thank you all for this year’s collaboration and especially for your trust that I hereby give to you entirely! I am glad to work with you and I wish to continue working with this united, professional and tenacious team that sees finding solutions not as an obligation, but rather as a personal desire.

“We must be the change we want to see in the world“ is a quote I always try to guide myself by and I want you all to find yourselves in these words of wisdom! Your work, your constant efforts and your extraordinary mobilization of December, the way we tried to face the challenges together, in solidarity with the group and our colleagues, prove that we can be what we want and that together we will definitely succeed!

I wish you and your family good health, prosperity, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with many accomplishments and successes!

Dana Brindescu Iovanov, General Manager Smithfield Prod

Dear colleagues,

We are facing a new year – a new begin-ning that we look at with confidence and hope, and with belief that together we can successfully meet all challenges yet to come.

I am very happy that together we managed to get here. With effort and tenacity, with patience and thoroughness, we managed to achieve many of the things we’ve pro-posed ourselves to accomplish – be it pro-duction, sales, logistics – even when they haven’t been easy to achieve, and solutions that had to be found required a lot of dedi-cation, outstanding professional qualities and courage. The winners are those who, in the end, proved to have a superior will, and we’ve showed that yes, it is possible!

A wise Chinese, Lao-Tzu, once said that “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. Together, we’ve overcome a complicated and challenging period. We’ve built, step by step, in time and with patience, a solid and competitive business, based on compliance with the highest standards of quality, food safety and bio-security, animal welfare and environment. We were able to develop models to follow, support those who wanted to improve themselves, and made a priority to care and respect our col-leagues, our collaborators, and the commu-nities we live and work in. Step by step, each and one of us had our role in this “one thou-sand mile journey” that our company and we, together, are taking to the future we are eager and confident to discover.

Our group of companies is even more valu-able today thanks to the effort of employ-ees and partners. I want to thank you all for your dedication and mission accomplished, and invite you to discover together the op-portunities of this new year and new begin-ning.

Starting this year, we are present on a more extensive international market. We produce “100% Romanian products” we are extremely proud of, that can make us known abroad as well. Responsibilities are huge, and challenges alike: for the first time we can build together a company with both national and regional importance. We can make our brands not only reasons of internal recognition, symbols of tradition and great quality, but also real international vehicle of our and, why not, national profes-sional pride.

I would also like to invite you to know your colleagues from other departments and other companies in our group, as well. We are all a big family, and through our profes-sional development and civic responsibility programs can know each other better for the purpose of a great collaboration and performance. It is essential to understand that our advantage is precisely the inte-grated nature of our business, which gives us a chance to better understand all mech-anisms and levers of the industry because, ultimately, we can make a difference.

I also seize this opportunity to wish our col-league, Dana Brindescu-Iovanov, success in her new mission as General Manager of Smithfield Prod. I am confident that Dana’s experience will be influential in achieving Smithfield’s growth strategy in Romania.As always, I want to emphasize the involve-ment of Smithfield volunteers in more civic programs and projects of interest. We are a responsible company that prioritizes the needs of the community it operates in: through our social responsibility programs, we want to remain a support for people fac-ing difficult situations.

Gandhi once said that the best way to dis-cover yourself is to lose yourself in the ser-vice of others. I would paraphrase by say-ing that what makes us special, the secret of Smithfield family’s success lies precisely in this spirit of responsibility and duty of which I wish to give evidence, both jointly and each of us individually.

Bogdan MIHAILPresident Smithfield Romania

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

The secret of Smithfield family’s success lies precisely in this spirit of respon-sibility and duty of which I wish to give evidence, both jointly and each of us individually.” In international operations, Smithfield Ferme in Timisoara, Romania, re-

ceived the International Award for Health and Safety Excellence, which annually recognizes a Smithfield international company for continuous improvement in preventing injury and illness.”” ”

Smithfield Foods Salutes Operating Companies for Again Maintaining Lowest Injury Rate in Com-pany’s History

Bogdan Mihail, President Smithfield Romania: Smithfield Foods:

“We Must Be the Change We Want to See in the World”

“Discovery of a New Beginning”

As of November 2012, Mrs. Dana Brindescu Iovanov is the General Manager of Smithfield Prod. Dana joined Smithfield Prod in August 2005, as a Financial Con-troller and was successful in implementing new procedures and internal report-ing in Finance area.

She gradually took over several responsibilities within the company, being pro-moted in 2006 as Finance Director. Dana has also been actively involved in Op-erations support for our distribution subsidiaries – Agroalim Distribution and Frigorifer Tulcea, part of Smithfield Group in Romania. Dana graduated from the West University of Timisoara, previously working for a reputable international audit company.

“I am honored to be part of a professional, upright and ambi-tious team I have the opportu-nity to run for achieving Smith-field Prod’s goals.

I wish to further have the same support received in these past years and I count on your sup-port in achieving what is ex-pected of us.”

”

In international operations, Smithfield Ferme in Timisoara, Romania, received the International Award for Health and Safety Excellence, which annually recog-nizes a Smithfield international company for continuous improvement in prevent-ing injury and illness. Smithfield Ferme has demonstrated a high level of com-mitment to making workplace improve-ments, and has moved from a traditional program approach to a management systems-based approach to preventing injuries.

EIPMS establishes an organized, process-oriented, proactive methodology to pre-vent injuries, and is regularly updated in order to continually improve safety and health performance. The BRI process sup-ports EIPMS by encouraging hourly em-ployees to observe each other and help make safe decisions.

To learn more about Smithfield Foods’ employee health and safety initiatives, please visit www.smithfieldcommit-ments.com/core-reporting-areas/em-ployees/health-safety/.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. has recognized several of the company’s facilities and employees for their successful efforts in “creating sustainable value” by implementing and managing innova-tive environmental projects. As a result of these projects, Smithfield was able to save 219 million gallons of water and 12 million kilowatts of electricity. These reductions, along with other conserva-tion measures included in the project submissions, resulted in an annual cost savings of more than $12 million.

The environmental achievements of the past year were recognized during the company’s annual Environmental Excel-lence Awards banquet.

“Every day, our employees are working very hard to continually improve our environmental management processes, and their efforts and innovations have resulted in measurable sustainability achievements,” said Dennis H. Treacy, Smithfield’s executive vice president and Chief Sustainability Officer.

Smithfield’s Environmental Excellence Awards program is intended to inspire employees to practice creative envi-ronmental stewardship by recognizing outstanding internal efforts in envi-ronmental management. Sharing best practices among Smithfield’s various operating companies drives improve-ment and spurs innovation across the company.

Resource Conservation - Waste Reduction

• 1st Place — Smithfield Prod, Tim-isoara: Mihaela Rad and Lilioara Stredie

• Honorable Mention: S.C. Smithfield Ferme S.R.L.; S.C. Smithfield Prod S.R.L., S.C. Agroalim Distribution S.R.L., S.C. Frigorifer S.A.: Mircea Bitca, Codrut Dan, Mihaela Rad, Madalina Barcan, and Catalin Varlan

Smithfield Foods USA: Conference on Environmental Protection

4 5No. 4 - December 2012

Smithfield, Ranking 88th on the Most Valuable Companies Top: 134 million EUR

ISO 14 001 Recertification

Certification for the Implemen-tation of Occupational Health and Safety Management System OHSAS 18001 :2007

“Meat Industry” Integrated Seminar

Smithfield Ferme, the largest hog producer in Romania is estimated at EUR 134 mill., on the rise compared to the previous year which was also the first when we

were ranked among the most valuable companies in Romania.

Smithfield’s business reached EUR 130 mill. in 2011, up by 20% compared to 2010, but the net profit was almost five times lower, i.e. EUR 1.5 millions. 2012 results are expected to be positive considering that Romania has achieved lifting the ban on pork exports to the European Union. Among the Romanian players on the pork market, Smithfield is the main beneficiary of this decision, given that the Ameri-cans hold the largest number of pigs between the breeders operating in Romania. Smithfield operates in Romania 46 farms with almost 850,000 animals. Bogdan Mi-hail, CEO Smithfield Romania said that he relies on minimum exports of 10% of production.

Smithfield came to Romania in 2004, when purchasing Comtim Group located in Timisoara and Agrotorvis. Later, the company took over both the food distribution company Agroalim Distribution Bucharest and Frigorifer refrigerated ware-house from Tulcea.

BOGDAN MIHAIL - Smithfield Romania PresidentCHAD GRIESER – Smithfield Romania CFOCOSMIN NEAGU – Smithfield Ferme Executive DirectorROMEO APOSTU – Smithfield Ferme Executive DirectorGORAN PANICI – Smithfield Ferme Operational DirectorShareholders: SMITHFIELD – 100%

source: Ziarul Financiar

and mature, and responsibilities as-sumed by each and one of us have led to the successful completion of the aim pursued, namely recertification. Thanks to all those involved in preparing the audit, and to all those who, through their actions, have constantly gotten involved in maintaining and improving the Environmental Management Sys-tem.

Following the September 20, 2012 audit, S.C. Smithfield Prod S.R.L.

achieved recertification of Environmen-tal Management System, according to ISO 14001. TUV Austria team of external auditors was impressed by the system structure, the skills and determination of the whole team; no nonconformities were found at the end of the audit. Four years after certification, the environ-mental management system is reliable

In October 2012, Smithfield Prod has obtained the OHSAS 18001:2007certi-

fication, for implementing the occupa-tional health and safety management

system, which represent the guaranty the company is operating in compli-ance with best occupational health and safety practices.

At the initiative of IndustriaCarnii.ro magazine (‘Meat Industry’ maga-

zine), the integrated seminar “Real chal-lenges require intelligent solutions” was held at Bucharest from October 31 to November 1, 2012. Meat indus-try experts, representatives of state institutions, and managers of leading companies discussed important topics including: development of meat indus-try starting with 2013; influence of raw

materials’ price on pork price; export of meat and meat products; current status of livestock breeders; farmer – slaugh-terhouse – retailer partnership; subsi-dies in agriculture and food industry.

Smithfield Romania was invited to par-ticipate as speaker to the seminar, due to contribution had to identify appro-priate strategies for development of meat industry. Thus, Mr. Goran Panici, Smithfield Ferme Channeled System Manager, delivered the speech: Chan-neled System for Pork Production in Romania, Intended for Intra-Communi-ty Trade. The seminar was also attend-ed by Mrs. Dana Brindescu-Iovanov, Financial Director (at the time), Mr. Florin Raba, Commercial Director and Mr. Laurentiu Pandele, Quality Assur-ance Director. Smithfield Romania was congratulated for the way it invested and developed the meat industry busi-ness, and was awarded the Trophy of Excellence granted to Smithfield Prod and Smithfield Ferme for performances obtained and essential role in develop-ment of meat industry in Romania.

As accustomed in recent years, “TUV ISO audit” was held this year as well. Due to involvement and effort of persons respon-sible for every system, of internal auditors and, last but not least, of our employees, there were no nonconformities found in this year’s audit.

Unlike the last two years when a surveil-lance audit was carried out, this year’s audit for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, was a recertification audit of the three man-agement systems. The second surveillance audit was carried out for the Food Safety Management System (ISO 22000).

The recertification audit was conducted by TUV Austria auditors at Cenei farm (Farm Manager – Gabriela Guran) and Vinga Feed Mill (Feed Mill Manager – Ladislau Mester),

and at the headquarter departments, where all 4 management systems have been audited.

We would like to thank each colleague from SMF Ferme for dedication in aware-ness of the integrated management sys-tem’s importance and involvement in this process success.

Congratulations to the farms that achieved THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COM-PLIANCE with EMS requirements during the audit:

Nitchidorf 1farm responsible Dinu VETISAN

Boldur 2 farm responsible Petru SZABO

Smithfield Prod is an IFS version 5 certified company since 2011. Dur-ing October 22-25, 2012, Smithfield Prod requested Ecocert France’s auditing for the International Food Standard 6 certifi-cation.

IFS is a tool through which we, as a com-pany, can become better both in terms of food safety and product quality, and can continuously bring improvements under strict European Food legislation.

Main differences between the two ver-sions of the standard:

• version 6 has more stringent infra-structure requirements ;

• a stricter process surveillance ;• existence of a new “food defense”

chapter, setting out additional pro-visions on food safety.

This is a GFSI-recognized standard, re-quired by most retail chains, and imple-mented by Smithfield Foods as well.

Like last year, we ended the audit with the “higher level” mention – the maxi-mum score a company can achieve.

IFS benefits include:

• IFS certificates comply with EU leg-islation on food safety, and require-ments on GMOs, allergens and Traceability;

• IFS certificates protect the brand and business;

• IFS allows the implementation of a single program and standard to cover all global market require-ments;

• IFS is used by retailers and food in-dustry units worldwide;

• IFS makes us more competitive.

Following ISO 22000 system recerti-fication, Smithfield Prod had its first surveillance audit in October this year, designed to ensure that the fin-ished product is of high quality and safe for use. Audit results have led to maintaining certification for the fol-lowing year as well.

An audit attended by representatives of USDA, NSVFSA and SVFSA Timis was conducted at Smithfield Prod, with the purpose of obtaining the na-tionwide reopening of the possibility to export Romanian meat products to the USA.

The areas audited included: infra-structure, documentation, food safety system, production activity, animal welfare, and work carried out by the sanitary-veterinary staff of the authorities, inside Smithfield Prod. A nationwide report will be prepared following the audit which was not published at the time of this article’s writing. Nonetheless, we are pleased with how the team has handled this project.

In September this year, the FVO Mis-sion (Food and Veterinary Office with-in DG SANCO – Directorate General for Health & Consumers) conducted an audit on the Channeled System at Smithfield Ferme and Smithfield Prod. Following the audit, it was de-cided to maintain Smithfield Roma-nia in the Channeled System.

On November 8/9, 2012, experts of sanitary-veterinary authorities con-ducted an audit at Smithfield Prod and Smithfield Ferme in view of ob-taining permission for Romanian pork export on the Russian market.

Smithfield Prod: Certification Audit for the International Featured Standard - Food, Version 6

Surveillance Audit ISO 22000: 2005 for Animal By-products Rendering

FSIS Audit Experts (US – Food Safety Inspection Service)

FVO Experts Audit

Russian Authorities Audit

NEWSNEWS

We want to thank each and every Smithfield Ferme’s employees for realizing the importance of the integrated management system and for their participation to the successful implementation of this project.” The Trophy of Excellence was awarded to Smithfield Prod and Smithfield Ferme

for performances obtained and essential role in development of meat industry in Romania.”” ”

Smithfield Ferme: recertification audit for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001

6 7No. 4 - December 2012

NEWS NEWS

Emergency Simulation Exercises

Smithfield Prod Training for Butcher and Meat Carver Job Qualifications

Monthly Piglet: “We rely on competition to become the best”

Each year in November, an emergen-cy simulation exercise is conducted

at Smithfield Prod by Eng. Mircea Vica and Technician Mihai Lungu, in order to form our abilities to react in emer-gency situations and ensure a fast and efficient intervention on our own forc-es with equipments provided.

This exercise is attended by all employ-ees, regardless of their position and responsibilities within the company. We know now that first reaction is im-portant in case of emergency – and be-cause a flame can be extinguished with a glass of water, it is very important for all employees to acquire a minimum of information to be prepared to react in such a situation.

The topic of emergencies is of great in-terest now more than ever, given that we’ve all watched the disasters recently caused by Hurricane Sandy in US, floods that are lately more often, or the catas-trophe of this February when hundreds of houses were isolated in Vrancea area due to heavy snowfall, our company supporting the special intervention forces with food donations.

If authorities have a special structure, the Inspectorate for Emergency Situ-ations, the company has an organiza-tional structure made of an emergency unit managing emergency situations, supported by a private emergency ser-vice ready to react in such situations.

In the previous issue of the newsletter, we announced with pleasure that Smith-field Prod became an authorized training provider for butcher and meat carver

job qualifications. After successful accreditation, the HR Department continues the professional training and qualification of employees, with even greater enthu-siasm. Thus, the first training for butcher and meat carver job qualifications, rec-ognized by the Ministry of Labor, National Council for Adult Vocational Training, were held in September. This project was initiated and developed to support the Production Department, this way offering real support with distribution of skilled workers. Business impact was not negligible, but rather brought major improve-ment in terms of production and personal development, recent graduates being more confident and motivated.

Both the theoretical and practical part consisting in 360 hours were held internally with own resources, all students of the first group being able to successfully pro-mote the final exam. We congratulate all sixteen graduates and wish them a long and rewarding career in this field of activity!

At Smithfield Prod, we all know that when we hear the siren, we must go out in the yard and gather in the well-known place, and … the exercise to re-fresh our knowledge begins! Two work-shops have been organized this year as well. The one in the production area was related to – detection of ammonia leak routes, rescue of a victim with mul-tiple fractures, working at height, and handling of portable fire extinguishers to extinguish flammable liquid fires. In the other workshop of TESA personnel (Technical, Economic, Scientific and Ad-ministrative) we were told about fires, a myth being thus destroyed – women cannot put out a fire!

Besides Smithfield Prod employees, the exercise is attended each year by mem-bers of RESCUE TIM (Volunteer Rescue Association) and Red Cross Timis Sub-sidiary. Note that the volunteers arrived are militaries, doctors, nurses, psychol-ogists, workers, students and pupils, ac-companied by very obedient and well trained rescue dogs. These exercises are carried out with the notification of Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, Timisoara Town Hall, economic opera-tors in the area and citizens of nearby homes.

The next action of the Emergency Situa-tion Service and the private emergency service took place in December when a fire situation was be simulated by igni-tion of combustible solid waste.

In August 2012, Smithfield Prod launched the publication Comtim Products Catalogue, a complex work including pictures and description of our products.” Smithfield Prod Qualification Training: “After successful accreditation, the HR

Department continued in September employees trainings with the first training for butcher and meat carver job qualifications.”” ”

This year as well, Smithfield Romania celebrated the US Independence Day on 4th of July, more specifically the date when the US Declaration of In-dependence was officially adopted by the Congress of Philadelphia.

In August 2012, Smithfield Prod launched the publication Comtim Products Cata-logue, a complex work including pictures and description of our products, which shortly proved to be a useful selling tool.

The work comprising 140 pages is the result of Production, Quality, IT and PR Departments teamwork and can be ac-cessed on the following webpage: http://www.smithfield.ro/ro/produse/

SIAL International Fair, the largest food industry exhibition, which takes place every two years in Paris, was held this year from October 21 to October 25 and was attended by 140,000 profes-sionals in meat industry. With impres-sive numbers like 5,900 exhibition stands from 100 participating coun-tries, SIAL has proposed to bring into the spotlight the main challenges fac-ing the global meat industry to date. Specialists and top managers of retail, meat, and HoReCa industries, buy-ers from all over the world visited the exhibition in search of new products, suppliers and business opportunities. This year, SIAL International Fair was attended by Smithfield Prod Sales Department represented by Mr. Florin Raba, Commercial Director, Mr. Ionut Cretu and Mr. Tiberiu Abraham, as Ex-port Sales Representatives.

Smithfield Romania was awarded the Diploma of Excellence for support given to beneficiaries of “Pentru Voi” Founda-tion (“For You” Foundation) through our program “Food for Souls”, as part of the 9th edition of “Pentru Voi” Gala (“For You” Gala), a fundraising event to thank the partners of this year.

4th of July

Comtim Products CatalogueSIAL Participation (Salon International de l’Alimentation)

“Pentru Voi” Gala

Commencing with fiscal year 2013, Smithfield Ferme Production Department, through its team made of Goran Panici, Ramona Untaru and Robert Matthis, rely increasingly on stimulating competition between swine farms, including units of Contract Grower partnerships. One of the tools used this year is the department internal newsletter, Monthly Piglet, (55 printed copies/month), distributed to all our farms, which highlights the values reached by different units for various production indicators affecting the entire technological flow, such as feed conversion, delivery weight, number of weaned piglets, number of sows impregnated per year etc.

At the same time, this informational material spreads the recommendations of Sally the Guilt, to help improve farms’ performances, and to strictly imple-ment the rules on animal health and welfare; moreover, the newsletter shows a comparison of results achieved by production units in the previous months (without pointing out their names), highlighting the best results achieved in order to establish a constructive competition between units. The Production Department manages to get good results, each unit being stimulated by this competition to become the best in the system.

www.smithfield.roJob Qualification Training, Smithfield Prod:

8 9No. 4 - December 2012

NEWS PROJECTS

A new project has been started this fall, through the productive collaboration of Smithfield Prod Processing Department and Arca Company in Satu Mare. The project focuses on the development of new smoked products that may be found at Comtim store and Nova Tim re-tail network. Works to extend the covered area shall be carried out in the future.

Specialty goods, such as Fillet, Smoked Nape, ‘Peasant’ Ham, Smoked Processed Pre-mix, Mon-tana Fillet, Boiled and Smoked Gizzard, and Smoked Bacon can be bought in pieces of about 200-300g, except for Montana Fillet which is sold individually at 500-600g.

Three ranges of products can be tasted daily at Comtim store. These products are part of a pilot pro-ject to test the recipes and market reaction to such products – if you want to send us your views on the products mentioned above, you can use the following address: office@smithfield.ro.

ARCA Productsin CommunitySmithfield Ferme’s “Dashboard” Project

Training Programs in Smithfield Prod Sales Department

Vinga Days, during June 9 – 10, 2012;Szentes Days, Hungary, during June 23 – 24, 2012;Dumbravita Days, during July 21 – 23, 2012;Wine Festival, during October 26 – 28, 2012;Gastro Fest, during November 23 – 25, 2012;Christmas Fair held throughout December, in downtown Timisoara;Ignat Celebration held in Jimbolia and Iecea Mare, December 20, 2012.

The major advantage of this type of archiving is to present summarized informa-tion as graphics and elements of selection on a single page: a clear structure for any type of data.” Send us your views on the Comtim-ARCA products at the following address:

office@smithfield.ro.”” ”László PÉTER, Smithfield Ferme’s Feed Production Analyst and Coordinator: Comtim-ARCA Products:

As we’ve been accustomed to, Smithfield Romania continued the visibility campaign by promoting Comtim brand.

At Paprika Festival held in Buzias on 07.10.2012, Comtim image was visible through Janos Butcher’s Shop whose standard was greatly appreciated. Reali-tatea TV’s news of that day showed a material about us, in a brief interview with the Butcher’s Shop Manager, all unfolding on a background with Comtim im-age on roll-ups.

Commencing with fiscal year 2013, the activity of Smithfield Ferme’s operational de-partments (Feed Mill, Transports) is supported by a new type of reporting with a

very extensive application and various possibilities. The new reporting variant provides the possibility of “migrating” inside a complete database: a dashboard type organized on a single page – a substantial improvement over the existing spreadsheet reporting. Easy visualization allows, through a series of two operations, the viewing of 2008-2012 archive and transformation of any relevant graphics and data comparison. This dash-board may also be used as a reporting tool for management, and as support for creating reports in countless possibilities! Started in July 2012, the project for report creation was finalized in 2 weeks, having an interactive database as final result.

“The major advantage of this type of archiving is to present summarized information as graphics and elements of selection on a single page: a clear structure for any type of data”, added László PÉTER, Feed Production Analyst and Coordinator, and the creator of this type of supporting report. The next steps are report optimization, improvement and extension to Production and Financial Departments and, why not, in anticipation of users’ feedback, a full version as a future project.

The first stage in the training program on development and evaluation of skills, con-ducted by Smithfield Prod sales team, was held in July this year. The aim and major

purpose of this training was to consolidate Comtim’s sales team within Smithfield Prod and Agroalim, to act as an entity with the same common goals and directions. Thus, the first training stage consisted in a deep approach to the analysis and understanding of the business, and to the identification of common goals. All people present were able to acknowledge the major impact of decisions taken by the Sales Department on the business, to understand and learn new ways to address the clients and analyze new market requirements, and all this for the common goal to ensure 100% satisfaction on consumer’s needs and increase of Comtim products’ sale.

The initiators of this training, the HR Department in collaboration with the Sales De-partment, ended the process with a final evaluation which also included the Thomas test. Results were received with great enthusiasm by participants who thus had the opportunity to know each other better and improve their performance. Being an inte-grated process, the second part of October training followed revision and assessment of knowledge and concepts from the first session. This process actually targeted the importance of personal development, aiming on the importance of group dynamics and interpersonal relationship. In this context, Mr. Gelu Minea, Key Account Manager, brought to the attention of participants an overview of the main theme of evolution of sales in terms of quantity vs. target, both nationally and on sales channels, for FY 2013, May to September.

The annual EFPRA Congress (European Fat Processors and Renderers) was held in June at Dubrovnik, Croatia, and was attended by the Smithfield Prod representative, Mr. Robert Nagy Voina, Rendering Manager. Specific topics were addressed during the discussion sessions, such as: “Sustainable and Safe Use of Animal By-products”, overview of the latest legislative modifications applicable in the field, or updated reference statistics. This event also brought about a beneficial interaction with European experts in animal by-products rendering.

After a period of 6 years in which Roma-nia did not export pork, as of February 2012 Smithfield Prod has again been a pioneer in receiving approval for pork marketing to EU Member States. Date in Smithfield Prod calendar: the first intra-Community trade – 07.02.2012. Opening of external market for Smith-field Prod was followed by export ap-proval to non-Community countries: Republic of Moldova and Serbia; ne-gotiations between authorities from Romania and Russia, Armenia, China, Hong Kong, and Japan, are currently underway.

EFPRA Congress

Export Department Presentation

First aid Training at Smithfield FermeRecently, 30 employees from all Smithfield Ferme’s departments had the oppor-

tunity to attend first aid courses in case of work injuries or acute occupational intoxication, says Dr. Marius Havrincea, Coordinating Instructor accredited by Med-ici’s.Training was directed by the Occupational Health and Safety Department and or-ganized by our Company’s HR Department. The training program was conducted inside the meeting room of Padureni Farm, for more than 10 hours, with authorized medical staff and specific materials, and assumed theoretical and practical presen-tation of resuscitation methods, followed by a final assessment certificate (valid for one year) “First Aid Provider“ / “Saver”.

10 11No. 4 - December 2012

Backstage Production: Ongoing Dedication and EfficiencyDialogue with Felix Petcu, Production Director Smithfield Prod, About Department Projects

The ceaseless objective of Production Department is maintaining the quality of Comtim products – we like creating the best quality products and we em-phasize our skills and attention to de-tails, in order to achieve this goal. The challenge is twofold when also aiming for system efficiency by optimizing pro-ductivity, so that variations from stand-ard are as small as possible.

But we, the Production Department, like challenges! The target and ambition of our department are bringing Smithfield

Prod to the highest level of efficiency in Europe. Efficiency means transforming raw material into high quality finished products with an optimal allocation of resources, by minimizing losses. In such a process, each of us has a defined role, like in a puzzle.

Raw material quality is very important. This complex production process starts from the farms and ends with the cus-tomer fully satisfied with the product delivered by us. It is necessary for the entire puzzle to be set on the same wavelength, and among many others, my job is to maintain the Production De-partment on the same denominator, set on constant pursuit of objectives.

It is equally important to maintain a pleasant atmosphere at work, to de-velop the cult of stability and safety at work, to contribute to professional de-velopment and training of personnel, and continue to take care of their health, the environment and animal health and welfare until the last minute, to recog-nize and cherish their values because these are Smithfield’s values.

Among the processes recently imple-mented or under implementation, pro-cess optimization projects, I would like to mention the following: Implementa-tion of a semi-automatic loading system for jumbo boxes; Innovating measures to reduce animal stress before stunning; Efficiency of primary cutting and carv-ing; Establishing of a training and educa-tion line of the newly arrived personnel; Increasing the quality of final packaging

and product safety during transporta-tion, and reducing packaging costs; Im-plementation of a complementary sys-tem to send information from cutting to packing-labeling, to avoid possible human errors; development of product traceability system.

Changes will help to:

• Optimize the number of staff in-volved in production;

• Make operations run faster, more efficiently and with re-duced efforts;

• Allow sorting/grading of prod-ucts according to criteria set class, weight, type of cut etc;

• Reduce costs by reducing down-time;

• Increase the quality and validity of the final product;

• 100% customers satisfaction;• Increase flexibility and produc-

tion capacity by over 12%.

PROJECTSPROJECTS

Above Average Crops on a Plot Organically Fertilized by Smithfield Specialists

Productivity achieved as a result of harvesting the experimental plot was of 9.2 to of corn per hectare, well above the average of crops obtained this year in Romania, under spe-cial drought conditions that affected crops, in particular maize.

“Year after year, we have proven that modern agriculture with optimized costs and positive impact on the en-vironment can be achieved in Roma-nia, by use of organic fertilizers from Smithfield farms. It is already a fact reconfirmed both by special results obtained per hectare and by the con-stant increasing number of farmers’ requests for organic fertilizer pro-duced by our farms”, said Bogdan Mi-hail, President Smithfield Romania.

Collaboration between Smithfield Ferme and Pioneer, conducted un-der the supervision of Timis Office for Pedological and Agrochemical Studies, started in 2008, as part of Smithfield Ferme’s program to pro-mote modern agriculture achieved by organic fertilization.

Through this program, we want to show farmers the positive impact that the use of organic fertilizers has on crop efficiency, soil quality and farmers’ operating costs.

Use of farm organic fertilizers in-creases nutrients in the soil, thus im-proving it with organic matter. This type of organic fertilizer successfully replaces chemical fertilizers, being

largely used by farmers across Eu-rope. Smithfield Ferme annually of-fers organic fertilizer for fertilization of lands in Timis and Arad Counties.

Sevel Vălean, one of the local farmers in Jimbolia, who Smithfield works with ever since 2010 in the organic fertilization program, believes that “organic fertilizer really pays off: it is natural, cheaper and leads to above average crops. It is a handy solution we are more than pleased with!”

Organic fertilizer from our farms is applied by modern techniques of injection and scarification, based on agrochemical analysis and ferti-lization plans which determine the optimum amount of fertilizer neces-sary for each crop. These plans and analysis are authorized and issued by the Office for Pedological and Agro-chemical Studies and complies with the provisions of the Code for Good Agricultural Practices.

The target and ambition of our department are bringing Smithfield Prod to the highest level of efficiency in Europe.””

Lucian Felix Petcu, Smithfield Prod Production Director:

Organic fertilizer really pays off: it is natural, cheaper and leads to above average crops. It is a handy solution we are more than pleased with!

Sevel Vălean, a farmer from Jimbolia:

”

I’ve been travelling all over Europe since I was 17 years-old and I’ve learned many and all sorts of things from the most important specialists in the field. In addition to the know-how I also take pride in having a school of life at European level. I gradually “slipped” to this profession, and now I can’t see myself doing something else. But what I am mostly happier about is the fact that I get to do this at home, that I am part of the big Smithfield family and I have the opportunity to share my experience of over five years to people I work with. Despite my job, I really love animals and plants, and I devote most of my time to them. I am passionate about sports, I ski and fish, but I hate hunting.

With conviction that each of us has a growth potential, Felix’s motto is “Believe in what you do!, since “Take it easy!” was not sufficient anymore.

”

For the fifth consecutive year, our specialists have obtained crops above country average, on one of the 14 experimental plots cultivated with

Pioneer hybrid corn and organically fertilized by Smithfield Ferme, in Jim-bolia. It is especially encouraging since these results were recorded under drought conditions.

12 13No. 4 - December 2012

PROFILE

Sorin Lazăr, Smithfield Ferme HR Manager:“I’ve Always Aelt Drawn to Working with People”

I joined the Smithfield Ferme team (Comtim Group then) in October 2005.

For 7 years before that, since 1998, I was the Human Resources Manager of a lo-cal company operating in the chemical and petrochemical industry, a subsidiary of ICC Industries New York. I graduated from Polytechnics University of Tim-isoara – Faculty of Electronics and Tele-communications. I am married and have two daughters, both studying at “Carmen Silva” Pedagogical High School, in the 6th and 8th grades, respectively.

How was your career influenced by the opportunity of working at SFD Romania?There are plenty of things to say. I person-ally believe that I have a great opportunity to continuously learn from everything this business stands for, regardless of its devel-opment stages: inside the organization or from the perspective of external impact on the economic scene, no matter their con-texts.

Why/When did you choose to follow this career?Although I have a background of technical training, I’ve always felt drawn to working with people. In the early years of this career, before being an HR Manager, I participated in the creation, development and imple-mentation of proprietary information sys-tems. To develop such a system, one of the most important steps in its analysis is com-plete knowledge of the beneficiary. This was the starting point of my involvement in hu-man resources activities, therefore the final passing on the “human” side came some-what naturally after an opportunity arose … but this is another story.

What are the challenges posed by such a position?By drawing a parallel between the two stages of my professional career (techni-cal/human), I can say that they both offer challenges and rewards, to the same extent. There is only one big difference - HR chal-lenges should be analyzed and treated with great responsibility in order to have “win-win” circumstances for all those involved. Any other result leads to new challenges you wouldn’t wish to have …

What is the key to success in such a posi-tion?I don’t think it is an “obvious” success. The

success of an HR Manager is rather indirect-ly evaluated and measured. Human resourc-es, along with time and financial resources, are the three components of management, hence the fact that success in such a posi-tion is quantified by the value of human re-sources’ support brought to each company department.

Who are your mentors that help/helped you in your career/life?Besides my parents, I cannot say that I was influenced by someone in particular. In-stead, I can say that I have learned many … good things from many people.

How do you collaborate with your team? What kind of leader are you? How do you think your collaborators see you/How would you like to be perceived by your col-laborators?I’ve applied the above questions to my team, as a questionnaire. A very good picture of the way I am perceived and a feedback that gives me the chance to analyze the relation-ship between the members of my team.

As a leadership type, I found out that I am an interesting and, to a certain extent, un-predictable combination of styles adapted to situations and colleagues. I formed in time a democratic approach to situations that requires certain prerogatives, an ap-proach that seems, in some cases, a direct and sometimes abdicratic style.

Different resolutions chosen to solve the same situation are attempts to identify alter-native ways of problem solving and to reach major objectives: a “win-win” situation for all those involved!

How do you manage to balance your ca-reer with your family? What are your pas-sions outside working hours?

As for my personality, I don’t think I would “qualify” or fit in a situation where routine is my work pattern.

Diversity and complexity of activities and, not very few times, their positive results mo-tivate and confirm me every time that my choice of working in the human resources field was a good one. Regarding my family, they are the success in my private life.

A good book, a good movie, and music are always welcome as ways of relaxation, turn-ing into periods of time when I am passion-ate about a certain genre.

Lately, I’ve become a troublemaker in the kitchen, but I try to reduce damages to a minimum acceptable for all those involved and, to their anxiety, cooking slowly starts to turn into passion.

A thought for your colleagues …Because we are on the verge of celebrating Christmas, I wish all my colleagues a very Merry Christmas together with their fami-lies and loved ones. At the same time, I wish that the coming year will be full of accom-plishments and joy for all!

Mihaela Adam, Smithfield Prod HR Manager:“Smithfield - Best Period of my Career”

Mihaela Adam has been work-ing for Smithfield Prod’s team for 4 years now, which gave her the opportunity to design and implement procedures from scratch, and develop projects that gave her the possibility to highlight her creative side.

She considers the position of Human Resources Manager a vocational job at the interfer-ence between departments, characterized by a sensitive accumulation of technical and leadership components and, why not, by being a strategic partner for company manage-ment.

I joined the Smithfield Prod team in early 2008 as an HR Manager and I am hap-

py with this choice I’ve made because it continues to be a job with enough chal-lenges for me not to get bored and always be active. I am a graduate of the Techni-cal University of Timisoara, Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, an avant-garde field of activity at that time, as well as now. In the first five years af-ter graduation I worked at the Technical University of Timisoara as an assistant professor in Computer Aided Design. Then, as of 1995 when first multinational companies began to appear in Romania, I chose to continue my career with a lead-ing company in food service, as an Op-erational Manager in charge of opening 7 units in the West side of the country and fully managing the project, from initia-tion stage to achieving profitability. Since 2001, I have been working in the human resources field, being involved in creating the HR Department but also in structur-ing and implementing several change management processes within a technical gas operating company. I attended several training courses in management, nego-tiation, leadership, coaching and I have a Master Degree in Human Resources. I am married and our son, Mihai, is a student of History.

How was your career influenced by the opportunity of working at SFD Roma-nia?The working period as part of Smithfield’s team was and still is the best period of my career as and HR person.Here, I had the opportunity to design and implement procedures from scratch, and develop projects that gave me the possibility to highlight my creative side. The opening of Smithfield Prod’s management team to collaboration and innovation made this process more beautiful and rewarding. I appreciate the fact that my HR colleagues are always proactive, and that we are able to develop complex projects – obtaining the authorization as training provider for qualifications of Butcher and Meat Carv-er, preparing and implementing a pro-gram for development of skills specific to the sales team, aligned with business ob-jectives and, currently, implementing the performance management as support for improving organizational effectiveness – along with hard work in presenting and

responsibilities in such an efficient way so that I can spend quality time developing the projects that bring value to the com-pany, namely to business strategy.Another challenge is posed both by the balanced and impartial approach to eve-ryday demands of colleagues and sup-port for operational activities and, why not, by hard and creative work. When the budget didn’t allow the development of projects necessary to the organization, we’ve always looked for solutions, applied for European funds despite the lack of expertise in the field, and thus succeeded to finance training and motivational pro-grams, along with a program to create an organizational culture oriented towards occupational health and safety.

What is the key to success in such a posi-tion?You have to love what you do! I consider the position of Human Resources Man-ager a vocational job at the interference between departments, characterized by a sensitive accumulation of technical and leadership components and, why not, by being a strategic partner for company management.Personality matters a lot to be successful in such a position and success is directly dependent on the degree of involvement, innovation and availability to constantly improve processes through learning.

Who are your mentors that help/helped you in your career/life?Family first and foremost, to which I am grateful for the full education received, continuous improvement, and the val-ues I grew up with. My husband is one of those people who always supports me and gives me balance and together with our son, Mihai, succeeded through love and tolerance to contribute substantially to the harmonious management of family-profession balance.

How do you collaborate with your team? What kind of leader are you? What do you think is your image among your staff/How would you like to be perceived by your collaborators?

What mattered a lot in Smithfield experi-ence was the team’s ability to adapt to dif-ferent working styles and the ability to fo-

“selling” HR projects.

Why/When did you choose to follow this career?Ever since graduation, my professional career was marked by training and de-velopment of human resources. Intuition, interest for discerning the “nonverbal” (communication) and perpetual search for optimization solutions led me in this direction.What I appreciate at this field of activity is creativity and guidance to people and their needs. I like people, diversity and working with different personalities, and I still consider challenging to find the best, the most conciliate and harmonious ways of working.

What are the challenges posed by such a position?One challenge is to run the administrative

PROFILE

I like people, diversity and working with different personalities, and I still consid-er challenging to find the best, most conciliate and harmonious ways of working.”””

Mihaela Adam, HR Manager Smithfield Prod:

The success of an HR Manager is rather indirectly evaluated and measured.”Sorin Lazăr, Smithfield Ferme HR Manager:

When you have the opportu-nity to work with Sorin in cer-tain projects or when he has the chance to offer support in extreme situations, you will be pleasantly surprised by his energy, flow of ideas and solu-tions he comes up with!

Through initiatives and sup-port provided, he tries to make life easier for the operational departments – in the past 7 years he has coordinated and managed Smithfield Ferme HR Department.

Sorin amazes you with the passion he talks about things he mostly enjoys. A visionary who prefers to explore the new situations he is faced with be-fore choosing to adapt them, he easily opens up in the inter-view bellow.

(continues in page 14)

14 15No. 4 - December 2012

Daniela Mirea, Agroalim HR Manager: “Smithfield Romania Opened New horizons for me”

Ioan Lasc, Smithfield Ferme Farm Manager: “Responsibility, Reliability and Team Work”

PROFILE

I joined the Agroalim team at the begin-ning of 2012, when I was hired as an

HR Manager.

Before this, I’ve worked as an HR Legal Director for two multinational compa-nies. I graduated from the Faculty of Law and I have a Human Resources Manage-ment Specialization. I have two grown-up boys I am really proud of.

How was your career influenced by the opportunity of working at SFD Roma-nia?It opened new horizons. I met some real professionals from whom I learned a lot.

Why/When did you choose to follow this career?

I chose this career in 1992 when I started working as an HR Inspector.

I love what I do! Later on, I discovered the reason why: I love people very much. I like socializing, making myself useful and helping people develop, and implic-itly the company we work in.

What are the challenges posed by such a position?To bring added value to the organization we work in.

What is the key to success in such a po-sition?Continuous information and training, fair-mindedness and fairness.

Who are your mentors that help/helped you in your career/life?I don’t have and never had a certain men-tor. I’ve learned from my parents, from the books I’ve read, from my own experi-ences and those of people I’ve met so far. Actually, I am still learning.

How do you collaborate with your team? What kind of leader are you? What do you think is your image among your staff/How would you like to be per-ceived by your collaborators?

I work very well with my team. I am a leader with a democratic style. I don’t know how my collaborators see me, but I want to be perceived as an honest and professional person.

A thought for your colleagues ...It is a pleasure to work with them. I wish them many accomplishments, both per-sonally and professionally. I was employed in the company on

July 13, 2011, as a biology consultant at Padureni farm for 6 months, after which I was transferred to Gurba farm – Arad County on the same position, also for 6 months, followed by my ap-pointment as farm manager on June 18, 2012. I graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timisoara in 2011; I am single. During my faculty years, I completed the training conducted by SC Smithfield Ferme SRL.

What made you become a Smithfield Ferme employee? Why did you choose to stay here and not go to another com-pany?During training, I understood what it re-quires to be an employee of this company and I decided to continue my career here. I want to remain at this company due to the opportunity of gaining experience in swine breeding. What are the challenges posed by such a position?First of all, responsibility, reliability and team work. What measures could be taken to de-velop the field of activity you work in?Founding of new farms in Arad County. What are the most beautiful moments in your activity at Smithfield Ferme?We had many beautiful moments at this company, but the happiest one was when viewing the closing of the last lot. Who are your mentors that help/helped you in your career/life?On this occasion, I would like to thank Mr. Claudiu Niste with whom I had the pleasure of working together during training, Mr. Marian Sabadis (former Padureni Farm Manager, currently Area Manager), Mr. Apetroie Radu (Padureni Farm Manager), Mr. Liviu Ciulu (Area Manager), Mr. Calin Lup (Arad Area Manager) with whom I have a close re-lationship, Mr. Ionel Carja (Veterinar-ian – Arad area) and my colleagues from Gurba farm from whose experience I had a lot to learn. What are your plans for the future?In the future, I would love to acquire new knowledge in intensive pig farming. How do you manage to get out of your routine? What are your passions out-side working hours?In my spare time, I like listening to mu-sic, sports, and reading books. A thought for your colleagues … I wish you all a year full of achievements and joy!

EMPLOYEES

At Smithfield, I’ve learned what it means to be responsible and how to col-laborate with persons that come from various social/educational back-grounds”.”” The key to success: continuous information and training, fair-mindedness

and fairness.”

Daniela Mirea, Agroalim HR Manager: Cristina Pova, PR Intern:

cus on “deliverable” or, in other words, professional approach focused on get-ting results.The most valuable asset of our team is the way we always man-age to work together and harmonize our working styles and priorities to achieve the common goals assumed.I expect the team I work with to be open to learning – I promote and support continuous learning and im-provement. Even if sometimes the pressure I put on my team is too high, I like to think that I set standards of excellence for the people I work with, which always show their long-term results. I believe a lot in learning, and this concept is not implemented at company level only through formal programs, but also through mentor-ing, coaching and, why not, the power of example. Learning is in fact a self-assumption process, and is directly linked to the pleasure to which you do things.

How do you manage to balance your career with your family? How do you manage to get out of your rou-tine? What are your passions outside working hours?

It is not always easy, because I am 100% dedicated to my job; but I al-ways had my family’s support and I try to allocate time for our joint ac-tivities. Now that our son no longer requires too much of our time, I re-discovered some of my passions and concerns. I’m a passionate reader, I ski and swim with great enthusiasm, but I’m also interested in art and cultural events of Timisoara, as well as Phil-harmonic Orchestra concerts which are also an opportunity to spend time with my mother.

A thought for your colleagues ...Each of us is important in what we do. By looking for personal excellence we can improve the overall performance of the company, and part of company added value is due to each and one of us. Motivation also comes from the satisfaction of work well done.I conclude by wishing you all a good new year, health to you and your fam-ilies, inspiration and energy to carry out your projects, no matter how dar-ing they may be!

Cristina Pova, PR Intern:

“Participating in an internship at Smithfield Prod was a beautiful ex-perience, and I can honestly say that I am excited about the three weeks I’ve spent in this company. I learned what it means to be responsible and how to collaborate with persons that come from various social/educational backgrounds. I had the opportunity to “test” the working atmosphere among coworkers, and had the surprise to find them all very open and friendly.” Therefore, to be an intern at Smith-field is an experience that really pre-pares you for life.

Miruna Stefancu, PR Intern:

“As a student in Communication and Public Relationships, I have had several internships before, but none proved to be as interesting as the one in Smithfield! I felt like a “full time” employee, constantly interacting with other colleagues from other depart-ments. Challenges have occurred since the first day and continued un-til the end of my internship.” It was a very important experience, both in terms of education and personal de-velopment!

Daniela Mirea likes people, so-cializing and helping her col-leagues develop professionally. That is why she chose to work in the HR field.She graduated from the Faculty of Law and has a Human Re-sources Management Speciali-zation. She considers herself a leader with a democratic style and wants to be perceived as an honest and professional person.

A friendly personality, Ioan Lasc has been our colleague in the company for one year now. In a very short amount of time, he managed to get noticed by in-volvement and new initiatives, and his integration came so nat-urally that the team he coordi-nates in Gurba WTF Farm, Arad County, became a team ready to perform shortly. By efficiency and streamline of daily opera-tions, Gurba farm’s production indices exceeded budgeted ex-pectations! Congratulations!

The Interns of Smithfield Prod Share Their Experience

Smithfield - Best period of my career(continued from page 13)

Editorial staff:Andrada Calancea, Cristina Bodea.

Editors:Ana Maria Buse, Cosmin Mihai,

Marius Dragomir, Contantin Dusca,Daniela Mirea, Mircea Bîtcă,

Ramona Untaru, Isabela Guduleasa László Péter, Lidia Basica si Dinu Cerna.

Translation:Mihaela Gergely

Editorial consultant:PRAIS Corporate Communications

4, Polonă Street, Smithfield ProdPhone: 0256 40 04 00; Fax: 0256 40 04 01andrada.calancea@smithfieldferme.ro cristina.bodea@smithfieldferme.rowww.smithfieldferme.ro www.smithfield.ro

Office:

7-9, Cetăţii Boulevard, Smithfield FermePhone: 0256 27 88 02; Fax: 0256 49 06 14

“Mosaic Smithfield” is a publication by the PRAIS Cor-porate Communications for Smithfield Romania. Any reproduction of text and images from this publication without the Smithfield Romania agreement is prohibited.

© 2012 All right reserved.

16 17No. 4 - December 2012

EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES

I believe that development in any field and any activity requires less individual-istic people. We like working at Smithfield Prod because this is the place where we found A-

plus people who taught us what we know.”” ”Ioana Rădulescu, Credit Controller, Agroalim:“One of the Nicest Parts in my Career for me Began with the Field Trips”

She was employed at Agroalim in an experiment-department and remained with the company because she doesn’t feel she is stuck in a rut.

She believes that a person in a position like hers must be a dy-namic and persuasive person that is able to see beyond what people want to show.

I’ll tell you in a chronological order: Professionally – In 2002, I graduat-

ed from the Faculty of Mathematics – Bucharest University. For 6 years, until 2005, I was a professor of Mathematics and Computer Sciences (also the years during faculty). In addition, I did the graphics and editing for several pub-lishing houses, and I worked with chil-dren with special needs.

In 2005, I was employed at Edenred (former Accor Services), a supplier of meal tickets and services – in the call-center – post-sales department. I started working at Agroalim in May 2008, in the call-center experiment-department. In 2009, the experiment failed and I started working as an ana-lyst for the marketing department.

In 2010, I applied for the analyst credit controller position within the same company, and I was accepted in the team I am part of to date. Personally – I’ve been married for almost 8 years and I have a boy, Matei, who is 5 years and 8 months-old.

What made you become an Agroalim employee? Why did you choose to stay here and not go to another com-pany?As I said, I was employed at Agroalim in an experiment-department. I had

experience in call-center and I consid-ered the project challenging. I stayed because I didn’t feel I was stuck in a rut and because my merits were large-ly recognized within this team. I’ve learned new things and I’ve set a di-rection professionally, and now I work with people I enjoy doing so.

What are the challenges posed by such a position?As credit controller, you need to com-bine the analytical sense with psy-chology. You must be a dynamic and persuasive person, and you must be able to see beyond what people want to show.

What measures could be taken to de-velop the field of activity you work in?I have an executive position. I believe that development in any field and any activity requires less individualistic people. Before being “employees”, we are “people”. We could be a little more

willing to leave a positive mark on a field of activity and on the people we interact with.

What are the most beautiful mo-ments in your activity at Agroalim?There were many beautiful moments. One of the nicest parts for me began with the field trips. Thus, I had the op-portunity to know my colleagues from subsidiaries I directly work with and I think I understood the business a little better.

Who are your mentors that help/helped you in your career/life?I don’t have and never had a mentor. I’ve learned from my parents, I’ve col-lected the experience of people I met, I’ve selected “Like This” or “Not Like This” and I’ve made my own opinion about what’s “Good” and what’s “Bad”.

What are your plans for the future?We “are starting” the 1st grade. I’ll be busy with this project for a long time. In the short term, I have a list of books I would love to read, a list of books I would like to read again, a few mov-ies to be seen, some ideas on how to rearrange my home, a course I would love to follow, meetings with friends, a subscription to the swimming pool.

How do you manage to balance your career with your family? How do you manage to get out of your rou-tine? What are your passions outside working hours?In full speed. I consider myself lucky, to some extent, because I sleep less and thereby I earn more time. I can’t say that I have a cyclic existence. Each day is different, especially when you have kids. We try to spend as much time in the family as possible. We go out, color, draw, sing, dance, play fuss ball (table tennis), and walk in the park.

A thought for your colleagues...I wish them all health, many smiles and to see each other well very soon!

Dana Lata, Technical Department, Smithfield Prod: “The “Employee of the Year” Award I Received Last Year was one of the most Pleasant Memories I Cherish”What made you become a Smithfield employee? Why did you choose to stay here and not go to another company?When it was time to get a job, I chose Comtim because it was an important and respected company in the area and across the country. Freidorf Slaughterhouse was also very close to my home in Utvin. I didn’t leave the company because I am a person who likes stability and I am happy to work with this team. Although I can adapt pretty quickly to change, I don’t necessarily look for it and I something goes right, I see no point in ruining it.

What are the challenges posed by such a position?In this field of activity, new requirements may occur and younger colleagues may join the team, and the main challenge is to keep up with all these changes.

What are the most beautiful moments in your activity at Prod?With few exceptions, I can say that I had no unpleasant moments. I am generally an optimistic person and try to see the good side in everything. I always believed that I am just a small link contributing to the smooth running of things, but at last year’s Christmas party I was surprised and very excited to receive the Technical Department’s award for the “Employee of the Year”. The award honored me and it was one of the most pleasant memories I cherish. Also, I never imagined that my picture will appear in the newsletter and I want to thank you for that!

Who are your mentors that help/helped you in your career/life?When I joined the company I was very young and inexperienced and I had the chance to learn many things from my first boss. Another important person in my life is my older sister who keeps me constantly on the run! I like saying that every day I learn something new from people around me, and that I could al-

ways count on my family and colleagues.

What are your plans for the future?I have never been a person who makes plans. I take things as they come.

What are your hobbies outside work?I spend my free time reading a book, watching a movie (if I don’t fall asleep), solving a Sudoku when I have a maga-zine around, I also like listening to mu-sic, a little of each kind.

Always full of life, smiling and ready to face any challenge, our colleague Dana is a role model for us all.Dana’s colleagues describe her as a team bonding, an extremely correct person who looks for and manages to mediate conflicts, al-ways fulfilling her duties well and being ready to help others. You may all find the secret of her lon-gevity with the company, as well as her constantly young and positive spirit, by reading the lines bellow.

My story with Comtim team began in July 1988. As one of the “long-est” employees, over the years, I’ve occupied several positions in the company, such as dispatcher and administrator, and I’ve met with dedication all the duties of that time and of today at Smithfield Prod.Marital status: single, no chil-dren.

All three are very well trained and en-thusiastic people who came to Smith-field directly from the school benches. Smithfield was their first job. All three state they like working at Smithfield Prod because this is the place where they found A-plus people who taught them what they know now and whom they enjoy working with.

Fanel Dobrescu: He has been an employ-ee of Smithfield Prod since August 7, 2006, after completing a successful internship within our company. A graduate of Poly-technics University of Timisoara, Faculty of Mechanics, specialized in technologi-cal equipment for foods industry, Fanel is currently responsible for maintaining the cutting, packaging and processing equipments in service and under optimal parameters. As of December 2011, he is an RSVTI operator (essentially, the RSVTI operator deals with monitoring all facili-ties, lifting equipment and high pressure equipment operating under ISCIR).

Sandu Marius: He started his activity at Smithfield Prod in mid July 2012, after having the opportunity to get familiar-ized with the Technical Department activity during his internship with the company, which ended successfully. He is currently a 4th year student at Polytech-nics University of Timisoara, Faculty of Electrical and Power Engineering, and as part of the company he is responsible for verifying the measurement and monitor-ing equipments of the Technical Depart-ment.

Manu Popa: He joined the Smithfield Prod team 5 years and 8 months ago. His first contact with the company was at a job fair in the fall of 2006, when he was the first to apply his CV. He subsequently did his research and was surprised to dis-cover that this is a multinational company involved in many actions on environmen-tal protection and social responsibility, a company profile fit to his demands. He graduated from the Polytechnics Univer-sity of Timisoara, Faculty of Hydrotech-nics, Environmental Engineering section, as valedictorian, and now he studies for his Master Degree. Currently, out of de-sire to acquire knowledge in other fields of activity, he is studying management at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from the West University of Timisoara. As part of the Technical De-partment, he is responsible for the well functioning of the water treatment sta-tion, as well as for treatment of drinking water used in the slaughterhouse, which is going to be discharged in Bega River under the safety conditions and param-eters imposed by law.

Smithfield Prod: 3 Success Stories

Ioana Rădulescu, Credit Controller, Agroalim:

www.smithfield.ro

18 19No. 4 - December 2012

EMPLOYEES

Mr. Florin Raba, Commercial Di-rector Smithfield Prod attended

the opening of Freidorf Slaughter-house, along with a Spanish chief, even from the beginning of Smith-field operations at Freidorf Slaugh-terhouse, when 10 pigs from a test lot were sacrificed. Since then, the Sales Department sold over 4.2 million pigs produced in an integrated system!

He often tells us that he loves his pro-fession and he cannot see himself doing something else, because of the dynam-ics, adrenaline and daily challenges, of which the most “popular” in Smithfield Prod’s slang is the “wall stuff” – that is the stock of merchandise that doesn’t have a confirmed buyer. He believes that this work can only be done as a team and there is a great gear of well established ideas, goals (or “targets”, e.g. in our slang), work and communication behind every successful project. The key to success is actually understanding each other, customer’s requirements, and market needs, as well as prompt re-ply, which should never be late.

Six years ago, we’ve begun strengthen-ing the core of Smithfield’s sales team, and since then we’ve gradually harmo-nized our work styles and cumulated results and challenges, while new col-leagues have been quickly integrated into the team so that, nowadays, the sales team is a united and strong team of true professionals: 21 sellers (West, East, South, Moldova, Ardeal areas, plus the export division), who are supported

by 11 colleagues from the support team (planning, orders production, op-erations and risk controller). The sales team is in fact an interface between the company and the end users, they are the one who represent us on the market and contribute to the company major objective – 100% satisfaction of cus-tomers. The sales team manages a port-folio of over 500 customers in all sales channels: local distribution, industrial sales, key account, and export, with an assortment of over 70 available prod-ucts. Over time, our sales team always knew to professionally manage changes in market, changes in consumption patterns and fluctuations in demand for animal protein.

Whenever he has the opportunity, Mr. Florin, as we all call him, says that he is proud of his team, a mature team which quickly understood how to work in the sale of fresh meat, a complex field where decisions must be taken quickly so that our market share continues to be high. 2013 is a year of bold plans – we intend to sale over 1 million pigs, to fall within the value-added products and Comtim brand to become once again known, ap-preciated and preferred by consumers.

We conclude the article by thanking our colleagues who believed in the sales team and who have always supported us, and by encouraging them to con-sume Comtim pork with trust!

EMPLOYEES

We recommend you to try Comtim fresh pork meat products” P.O.R.C. Project seeks to engage Company employees in identifying ways to improve the various sectors of our company’s activity.”” ”

Florin Raba, Commercial Director Smithfield Prod:About Colleagues and Being a Salesman

Biographical Data:Food Technologist Engineer

1989 / 1998 – aircraft carrier body;1998 / 2004 – profound study of knowledge in meat trading;2004 / 2006 – Area Western Meat Products Distribution Director2006 – has joined Smithfield team as a Distribution Manager, a position in which he consolidated the sales team in the Western area, planning to expand this approach nationwide. Started by being the first to distribute fresh meat nationwide, on all sales channels.As of 2008, he has developed the joint Project of Agroalim Distribution and Smith-field Prod, “Comtim Sales Division”.2010 – Commercial Director, main preoccupation was focused on developing new products, strengthening the position on external markets, increasing the number of customers and developing the Comtim brand. The next steps are forming Smithfield Europe sales team in collaboration with Animex, Poland – for external markets.

P.O.R.C. is a joint project of Smith-field Ferme and Smithfield Prod, initiated by the Occupational Health and Safety Department with the pur-pose of engaging Company employ-ees in identifying ways to improve the various sectors of our company’s activity.

In addition, innovative ideas aimed at optimizing the entire activity of our company are monthly awarded. As a result of this initiative, in September 2012, the new internal procedure for interruption of power supply of equip-ments during maintenance, inspired by SFD FOODS’s LOCK OUT-TAG OUT procedures on occupational health and safety, was completed. The first winners of the P.O.R.C. Project were also nomi-nated, namely over 29 of more than 510 participants, at the time of closing this publication’s current edition.

ProgramProgram for Smithfield Employees’ Responsibility and Involvement

P.O.R.C. Program:

This year as well, Smithfield Prod em-ployees proved their involvement in the P.O.R.C. project (Prevention, Ob-servation, Reporting and Correction of Hazards), actively participating in

identifying risks and optimal solutions for process improvement. We want to thank all our employees for their sug-gestions and viable solutions, and we want to further encourage them to

be actively part of this project. Name of employees whose initiative was re-warded by the company may be found in the list below:

P.O.R.C – The Winners

Gabriela Vidican, ProcessingChiriac Corina, PackingRila Cezar, Quality DepartmentTorcea Gheorghe, DeboningIvanov Sposoiko, DeboningCristia Marius, Stunning

Virag Ştefan, PARŢAVetişan Dinu, NITCHIDORF 3Stanciu Laurentiu, IGRIŞ 1Suciu Ivan, IGRIŞ2Vidican L, MAŞLOCDrăgoescu Vasile, BACOVAVădana Constantin, BOLDUR 2Unteanu Mihaiela, BACOVABodale Vasile, PERIAMAugustinov Imre, DUDEŞTII VECHIBrezga Cristian F, BIRDA NURSERYPopovici Maria, BOLDUR 1Oala Marius, PERIAM

Cojocariu Snejana Mariana, PackingPop Stefan Victor, ProcessingTasnadi Zoltan, PackingCostolas Danut, DeboningIotcov Danut, Technical DepartmentGitan Georgeta, Quality Department

Moise Dorina , BILEDBirdean Adina, JIMBOLIA 2Csibi Jozsef, NIŢCHIDORF 3Checherita Gheorghe, PECIU NOUCatană Victoria, FNC VINGABaltaretu Aurel, IECEA MAREHornea Gheorghiţă , MIŞCA 2Ivan Valentin Ionel, CENEIAnchi Mircea Nicolae, STAMORA GERMANĂMewes Florin , PERIAMGiosu Elena, GĂTAIA NOUĂTopliceanu Florentin, PARŢADospinescu Mihaela, FNC PĂDURENI

David Robert Gabriel, FreezingDosa Lajos, Technical DepartmentGheorghesi Laurentiu, PickingMuntean Ioan, Technical DepartmentLepadatescu Ionut, Quality DepartmentBatki Carmen, Deboning

Dohotar Maria, BACOVAStănescu Irina, PECIU NOUPârvan Marinela, SÂNPETRU MAREDavid Ioan, APATEUCrenicean Dumitru, BIRDAKeresztes Ferenc, PĂDURENIUta Voichita, CIACOVATric Dorin, TORMACBucatos Constantin Lucian, MOCREACrista Partenie, PERIAM 1Olariu Radu, PERIAMCiresan Elena, BOLDUR 3Munteanu Lucica, PARTA

Smithfield PROD

Smithfield FERME

20 21No. 4 - December 2012

EMPLOYEES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Because Smithfield promotes respect towards the environment, the event theme was the importance of a clean environment and a healthy lifestyle.” As part of the five-days program “Back to School”, 36 Smithfield volunteers

have travelled more than 2,100 km to provide children with the already tra-ditional school bags, school supplies and timetables.”” ”

Family Day:

International Food Day at Smithfield Prod

Smithfield Prod Alongside Lions Club

In October 2012, Smithfield Prod, along with Timisoara Town Hall and Iris Theo-retical High School, organized an activ-ity designed to celebrate the INTERNA-TIONAL FOOD DAY, which takes place worldwide on October 16 of each year. Participants, students and teachers, had the opportunity to be informed on the es-sential role of nutrition in a harmonious and healthy development.

“International Food Day is an opportuni-ty to tell students and all the inhabitants of our city that nutrition directly influ-ences our life quality, and choices must be made with full knowledge of the facts and responsibly, both towards the envi-ronment and us and our health”, said Ella Sipetan and Victor Birda, Counselors of Timisoara Town Hall, one of the organ-izers of this action.

This action is part of a series of events on education that have been developed over the years by the Environmental Depart-ment of Timisoara Town Hall in partner-ship with Smithfield Prod.

This fall, Smithfield Prod supported Li-ons Club in organizing a charity ball on November 3. Sponsorship consisted in providing Comtim meat products that could be appreciated by almost 300 peo-ple, businessmen from Timis, Arad and Caras-Severin Counties, and from Re-public of Serbia.

Funds obtained were used to purchase a Brain Monitor and a nitric oxide ad-ministration device for the Neonatology Department of Timisoara Emergency Hospital.

Smithfield Romania Volunteers Have Prepared Over 3,600 School and Pre-school Children for the Beginning of the New School Year

This year as well, we continued to en-gage our communities in Timis and Arad Counties in the program, by providing gifts and smiles to 3,600 children, for the sixth consecutive year. Even from the first week of the new school year, Smithfield Romania volunteers wanted to be by children’s side. We are pleased that in six years we managed to offer gifts at the beginning of school year to an increasing number of children. If in 2007 children from 4 localities have benefited from this program, this year we managed to offer gifts to children in 61 localities.

In the five days of the program “Back to School”, 36 Smithfield volunteers have travelled more than 2,100 km to provide children with the already traditional school bags, school supplies and timetables (with messages to save natural resources). This time, in addition, the little athletes from Smithfield communities have experienced yet another pleasant surprise when the company provided them with the appropri-ate equipment to help them not miss any of the sporting activities to be attended this fall.

Gifts with materials necessary to begin a new year of educational training have also been prepared for children both in kindergartens and preparatory groups from Smithfield communities in Timis and Arad Counties, and for 250 pupils, children of Smithfield Ferme, Smithfield Prod and Agroalim Distribution’s employees.

“Back to School” Program also considered

the spaces where pupils will carry their ac-tivity in, and therefore the company has also supplied the school furniture for set-ting up a school class in Utvin locality, San-mihaiu Roman commune and the writing board for a classroom in Nitchidorf locality.

“As every year, we stand by the representa-tives of the future generation we put all our hopes in and try to support, so that children can receive the necessary conditions for en-suring equal access to education and de-velopment”, said Bogdan Mihail, President Smithfield Romania.

The educational project “Back to School” started in 2007, at the initiative of Smith-field Ferme. As of 2009, this program has been joined by Smithfield Prod and in 2011 the program was implemented nationwide by including the localities where Agroalim Distribution operates. Overall, 13,600 pu-pils from localities in Timis and Arad Coun-ties (4 in 2007; 11 in 2008; 36 in 2009; 40 in 2010; 65 in 2011 and 61 in 2012) have al-ready been included in the 6 editions of the program.

June, a month with a special significance for children, was once again celebrated at Smithfield Prod.

Thus, the employees and their children were all invited to “Family Day”, held in a friendly and full of surprises atmosphere, when the youngest had the opportunity to show their creativity, team spirit and talent, accompanied by fairy tale characters and funny clowns, and all under the proud eyes of their parents and grandparents. Within this family event, children’s creativity was rewarded and parents were motivated, proving once more that Smithfield Prod supports them in their most beautiful and important moments.

And because Smithfield promotes respect towards the environment, the event theme was the importance of a clean environment and a healthy lifestyle.

This year as well, the afternoon of September 13 started with the annual celebration of “Meat Day”, now in its 3rd edition. The meeting is already a tradition and a good opportunity for all Smithfield Prod employees to celebrate together the achieve-ments of the year. The event began with awarding prizes to the most diligent of workers and, as a natural ending, everyone stayed to taste delicious dishes and raise the glass in reverence and appreciation for the productive year and company’s good results.The event was received with great joy by employees and was not over before they expressed their desire to meet again next year, in the same festive atmosphere.

Stanescu Elefterie – RenderingBalint Valentin – Production DeboningVuletici Nicolae – Production StunningStancu Olimpia – Production Processing

Vicol Ionel – Production PackingNicoara Lucian – Carcass DeliveryTalos Iosan – Fresh Meat DeliveryGheorghesi Laurentiu – Production Picking

Bisca Dumitru – Technical DepartmentIanc Ioan – Technical DepartmentAbunei Alexandru – IT DepartmentSuiu Sorin – Quality Department

Smithfield Prod: Production Employees’ Party

“Family Day” Celebrated at Smithfield Prod

The prizewinning persons of 2012, for their efforts and good results obtained are listed below:

This fall, a training dedicated to our sales team (frontline) was held at Bran. The specific objective of this initiative was to know the sales evolu-tion, in order to meet the overall ob-jective of boosting the sales.

In this respect, Mr. Gelu Minea, Key Account Manager, brought to the at-tention of participants an overview on the main theme of sales evolution in terms of quantity vs. target, both nationally and on channeled sales, for the FY 2013, May through September.

Smithfield Prod: Sales Training

Involvement and responsiveness of chil-dren was paid off, each receiving gifts for their ideas and projects, as part of the pro-gram “Your World? Clean!”

22 23No. 4 - December 2012

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT MOZAIC

Caritas Timisoara thanks you and assures you of its gratitude, and also ex-presses its admiration for your gesture!” I try spending as much time as possible with my family and children – eve-

nings and weekends are generally assigned to them.”” ”In Appreciation for “Food for Souls” Program

Over 300 Pupils and Teachers Have Attended the “World Water Monitoring Challenge” Event

Lime-trees, Willows and Plane Trees Plant-ed Nearby Mocrea Farm in Arad County

Alexandru Barbos, Internal Audit Director (Smithfield Ferme):“I Dream to Fly in Outerspace!”

“The collaboration of recent years between Caritas Federation of Timisoara Diocese and SC Smith-field Prod SRL is a real solid help for the beneficiary of our social services.

Regular sponsorships in products such as sausages, ham, bacon, or meat for cooking, which you’ve gen-erously offered to the social canteen, children’s residential centers, chil-dren day shelters, women shelters, and the night shelter, were always welcome and valued accordingly. Caritas Federation of Timisoara Dio-cese daily supports an estimate of 450 persons with food and, there-fore, sponsorship coming from SC Smithfield Prod SRL helped improve the daily menu.

In hope of future collaboration, we would like to thank you on behalf of our social projects’ beneficiaries (children, elderly, homeless, women victims of domestic violence, sick people), whose support you were a big part of. Caritas Timisoara thanks you and assures you of its gratitude, and also expresses its admiration for your gesture of solidarity with peo-ple in need, which nowadays doesn’t happen too often.” Herbert Grün, CEO Caritas Federatio

“Letter from Caritas Federation of Tim-isoara Diocese to Smithfield Prod”

Although, currently, Alexand-ru’s passions revolve around

his 2 children, during his teen-age years he practiced skydiving for 2 years and did 90 parachute jumps from different types of air-planes. He enjoys taking photos and riding.

What are your main hobbies?My current hobbies revolve around my two kids (David 5 years-old and Sara 2 years-old) – they take all my free time and I’m happy for that. We all love walking outdoors, especially swimming, skiing and hiking with my son who is already grown up. Sara and I started going pony riding and she loves it a lot, this being an opportunity I took advantage of to start taking riding lessons and dis-cover a new passion. As for my per-sonal hobbies, those I would love to resume at some point are related to photography, reading and, why not, an older passion of mine – flying. During my teenage years I prac-ticed skydiving for 2 years, and did

On the occasion of “World Water Monitoring Challenge”, over 300 pupils, stu-dents and teachers have participated, from October 26 to November 19, to civ-

ic-educational events organized by Smithfield Romania volunteers in partnership with municipalities, school inspectorates and over 20 schools in Timis and Arad Counties.

The action, initiated by fellow Smithfield Ferme and Smithfield Prod volunteers and echoing the international project of the same name, takes place for the fifth con-secutive year, under the form of open lessons and practical experiments through which students discover methods of water quality testing and learn about the im-portance of environmental protection. The first in a series of water monitoring ac-tions in Timis and Arad Counties took place on October 26, in Igris locality, where pupils from secondary schools in Igris and Sanpetru Mare, guided by their biology teachers and Smithfield Ferme volunteers, analyzed the water of Mures River. A week later, this was followed by a similar action in Ineu, where the water of Crisul Alb Rover was monitored.

This year’s series of events celebrating “World Water Monitoring Challenge” ended on November 19, at Timisoara, in a workshop organized by Smithfield Prod volun-teers, in partnership with Timisoara Town Hall, Timis County School Inspectorate, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering and Iris Theoretical High School. The event was attended by representatives of 20 schools and high schools, pupils and teachers who, under the guidance of Timisoara Chemists Stu-dents League’s representatives and Smithfield volunteers tested the quality of wa-ter samples taken from various surface waters in Timisoara.

Our Company continued this fall the tree planting campaign under

the aegis of the national volunteering planting movement “Millions of People, Millions of Trees” (www.milioanedeco-paci.ro). Environmental protection and regeneration are main objectives of our company and true values that we want to materialize through such actions. Today, more than ever, each of us has the opportunity to engage in voluntary actions, as part of our company CSR’s platforms, designed to protect the en-vironment.

On November 16, 2012, company volunteers along with extremely dedicated gym-nasium pupils of „Mihai Viteazu” High School from Ineu, Arad County, volunteers from central government institutions with activities in the field, and teachers cre-ated a greenbelt near Mocrea Farm in Arad County, belonging to Smithfield, by planting various species of trees: lime, poplar, acacia, and plane trees.

So far, Smithfield Romania has planted over 21,000 trees as part of the 7th edition of the national planting movement.

90 parachute jumps from different types of airplanes, mostly on Arad aerodrome, but also in Timisoara and Cluj.

What made you choose these hobbies?The hobbies I choose now depend on my children because I want to spend as much pleasant time to-gether as possible. As for skydiving, I believe that at least once we’ve all dreamed of being able to fly. Like many children of my generation, we were influenced by Dumitru Prunariu, the first and only Romani-an who ever flew in the outer space in the early ‘80s. Consequently, to the classical question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I in-variably answered that I wanted to be an astronaut which, obviously, brought a lot of smiles.

Later, in High School, I saw a poster announcing skydiving courses at Traian Vuia Air Club from Arad and I didn’t hesitate to subscribe. After passing all medical, physical, and theoretical tests and receiving pa-rental consent, I succeeded to be part of the club’s skydiving team. My most beautiful memories from that period of time are related to the 2000m high jumps I took, where there’s a 30 seconds free fall before opening the parachute, at a speed reaching 180-220 km/h. In those moments, there’s a phenomenal expand of time … and also some acrobatics to be performed correct-ly, but that feeling of freedom you had while flying was incredible!

When do you have time for them? How do you make time for them?I try spending as much time as pos-sible with my family and children – evenings and weekends are gen-erally assigned to them. During the holidays, there have been times when I tried doing things related to flying, such as bungee jump-ing, parasailing attached to a mo-tor boat or tandem paragliding, all

beautiful experiences that some-how cannot compare in intensity with the sensations experienced while skydiving.

What do these hobbies bring you? What do they mean to you?Joy – I believe this is the feeling you get from your hobbies and passions. In my case, skydiving also meant fulfilling my childhood dream of fly-ing, even if partially.

Do/How do your hobbies help you in your other activities?Like I said, I think joy should be the feeling to prevail when we choose/have a hobby and not necessar-ily the usefulness such hobby can have in your other activities. I like Octavian Paler’s quote on passion: “Passion doesn’t need motivation. It doesn’t necessarily require un-derstanding and explaining. On the contrary, it begins where there’s nothing else to explain, and ends when there’s the need to be clari-fied again.”

What would be your wildest dream related to your hobby/passion?My wildest dream would be, of

Sorocarilor FestivalThis November as well, Smithfield Prod was the main sponsor of the already

traditional event “Sorocarilor Festival”, a contest of folklore dances and music, and a good opportunity to celebrate the Romanian folklore in Utvin community.

(Continues in page 24)

Herbert Grün, CEO Caritas Federation: Alexandru Barbos, Internal Audit Director Smithfield Ferme:

24 25No. 4 - December 2012

“I would like to have more time to study the art of landscape and garden planning.” “For me, this hobby is above all a way of life, a spiritual balance, a special

form of expression.”” ”MOZAIC MOZAIC

course, to continue my childhood dream of flying in the outerspace.

What would you need to fulfill this dream?I read that there are companies or-ganizing space tourism flights. For now, such adventures are price-prohibitive, but you never know! Maybe at some point flights in the outer space could become avail-able for everyone, like commercial airline flights are nowadays, and which were unimaginable at the beginning of the 20th century.

What does your family think

about your hobbies? What about your friends / colleagues?Before my first parachute jump, since I was underage, my parents had to give their consent in writing. I’m sure they didn’t do it light-heart-ed, but eventually they understood and supported me. Now that I am a parent myself, I can understand them better. Once, my father even went with me on the plane, he was by my side during one of the jumps and took a series of pictures I still fondly look at. One of my son’s fa-vorite bedtime story is “Mos Babuta in Cosmos” (Old Babuta in the Outer Space), so you never know! Maybe

at some point he will have the same passion as I have. As for my friends and acquaintances, some find it fas-cinating; others find it foolish and thoughtless, depending on each one’s personality.

Do you try to involve your loved/close ones in your hobbies?Yes, because I do believe that my most important role from which I can learn a lot and which brings most satisfactions is that of a parent. Therefore, we try to focus on hob-bies and passions we can all share and which can bring us together as a family.

Alexandru Barbos, Internal Audit Director (Smithfield Ferme): “I Dream to Fly in Outerspace” (continued from page 23)

Ioana Admonicai Agroalim Distribution:“Gardening and Caring of Flowers - a Source of Relaxation and Joy”

Catalin Motorga (Smithfield Prod): “The Panpipe is the Instrument that Marked my Career”

Logistics Recommends: 10 Advices for Drivers

Ioana’s dream is to turn the gar-den around her house into an

oasis of peace and beauty, where no detail is random, from the har-monious arrangement of plants and flowers to colors and scents, which you can enjoy whether she sits on the terrace drinking coffee or walks through the rose bushes.

Tell us about your hobby.I grew up in a house full of flowers and plants; therefore I can say that I always liked flowers. Like any hobby that you get to take seriously and which becomes more than an oc-casional concern, flowers require active and constant involvement. Gardening is an art that is learned,

For me, this hobby is above all a way of life, a spiritual balance, a form of expression apart from word to the people around me, the refuge that sometimes I need to put my thoughts and feelings in order!

Tell us about your hobby: How did it happen to pick this hobby? How do you make time for it? What does it mean to you? Music is my passion. Ever since I was a child I was fascinated by one of the pur-est and most divine human expression in the universe – Music! I began musi-cal studies at an early age discovering, one by one, the piano, the guitar, and then the Panpipe – the instrument that marked my career and had a permanent impact on my life as an artist and which, over the years, helped me get on many stages in Europe and beyond! From my point of view, time is very delicate in this situation, especially that Music, like any art in general, requires a lot of time to reach perfection of artistic creation. Be-cause nowadays the artist is conditioned by other activities necessary to provide the basis of material existence, I can say that often enough time allocated to my

I’ve always asked myself: What does it mean to be a good driver? The answer

is always the same: you are good only when you are willing to learn as many new things as possible.

The ‘Zorro’ type characters who brag about how many miles they’ve driven are not necessarily good drivers; you are good if you are able to learn some-thing from any traffic incident, expe-rienced by you or those around you. Unfortunately, in Romania there are no schools that can teach you how to be a

good driver (at least not to my knowl-edge); they only teach you how to drive in the city.

I’ve synthesized hereunder several rec-ommendations of professional drivers:

1. Anticipation and distributed atten-tion are extremely important: what do pedestrians want to do, what does the car in front of us want to do, what traffic light color is up next, which maneuvers of the cars in front of us want to do;

2. Before leaving on a long trip by car, it is advisable to have sufficient rest and food; energy drinks are not necessarily the best way to stay awake during the trip;

3. Every long journey you have to make, allow yourself some time off every 2-3 hours of driving (get out of the car and breath fresh air, stretch your legs and arms and walk around the car);

4. If you have technical problems with the car and hate to stop, the car should be taken off the high-way;

5. Gather information in advance about traffic in the states you are

going to pass through (some states don’t allow radar detection devic-es, talking on the cell phone etc.);

6. Under no circumstances drink al-cohol before/while driving;

7. Before leaving on a trip by car, check the weather forecast;

8. If you drive a rented car, before setting off, get yourself familiar-ized with the car: devices, mirrors, breaks, manual/automatic gear-box;

9. Never wait until the pointer of fuel level in the tank reaches zero, es-pecially if you are on an unfamiliar road;

10. When travelling with children in the car, make frequent stops, not necessarily for food or drinks, but also for fun and original photos.

I will conclude with a small recommen-dation from me, this time: when carry-ing more people in the car, make sure that all passengers wear seatbelts, if the car is fitted as such; it does not only bring extra safety, but in most coun-tries it is compulsory by law.

An article by Marius Dragomir, Logistics Department Manager, Smithfield Prod.

requiring passion and time. How do I find time for flowers? In addition to my houseplants which welcome me in the evening and require my atten-tion, whether I want it or not, their appearance making me wonder if they have enough light and humid-ity, or if they need special care like soil fertilization and changing of pots, I spend most of my free time outdoors (especially the weekends), in the garden of my house which I try to arrange as I know better.

For now, I consider myself just a modest apprentice in gardening, but I learn something new with every rose cutting planted, because roses are my favorites. Gardening and caring of flowers are for me a source of relaxation and joy. Few things can compare to the beauty and freshness of a rose picked from your garden to decorate your room or to contemplating its beauty from your window.

What would be your wildest dream related to your hobby/passion?I would like to have more time to study the art of landscape and gar-

passion is quite limited! Even so, I try to make the best of it!

What would be your wildest dream related to your passion/hobby?I cannot say that I have a ‘wild’ dream about my passion. So far, I am spiritu-ally fulfilled that I was able to express myself musically in front of many people everywhere and that I could take some of our traditions abroad. Thus, I tried to enhance the value of certain traditional elements, instruments, music and more.

What does your family think about your hobbies? What about your friends/colleagues?My family supported me right from the beginning, giving me all the support and confidence I needed to move for-ward with this part of my life!

My friends and some of my colleagues are very excited about this passion of mine and by the fact that my music has a fairly large echo, being appreciated by people from different parts of the world!

Because of this, some of my colleagues got involved in different ways to support den planning. My dream is to turn

the garden around my house into an oasis of peace and beauty, where no detail is random, from the har-monious arrangement of plants and flowers to colors and scents, which you can enjoy whether you sit on the terrace drinking your coffee or walk through the rose bushes.

What would you need to fulfill this dream?First of all, more free time.

What does your family think about your hobby? What about your friends/colleagues?I share my passion for flowers with some of my family members and few of my friends, “exchanging ex-perience” whenever I have the op-portunity to. I, however, have friends who tell me that they wouldn’t have the necessary patience to take care of flowers, finding it an old time ac-tivity, when time was less hurried.

Do you try to involve your loved/close ones in your hobbies?To the extent they show interest in my hobby. I believe that inclination or interest in a particular thing must come by itself.

me, and I want to take this opportunity to thank them very much for the toler-ance and understanding they showed me!

Do you try to involve your loved/close ones in your hobbies?I don’t necessarily try this. If ever, one of my relatives or friends would ask me to teach him/her some secrets of the instruments I master, I would be more than happy to do so!

Ioana Admonicai, Agroalim Distribution: Catalin Motorga, Smithfield Prod:

26 27No. 4 - December 2012

THE YOUNGEST OF USTHE YOUNGEST OF US

Ana Basica Alexandru Razvan Kovacs , 5 years

Angelo Borcean Darius Lupu, 2 years

Iris Talos Sabina Radu, 2 years

Timea Antonia Tar, 1 year and 6 months

Beatrice Marcu 1 year

Antonia DanNedelcu Alina Maria

Robert Horia Paduraru

Vlad Neagu Vlad si Karina Petrescu Popa Alexandru Fabian

Robert Minea Sofia-Lani Cotrus Victor Andrei Vlăsceanu Victor Cârstea

Orlando Andreas Minea Partick Cerna Raisa Sofia Borcean Riana Neagu

Bogdan Santimbrean Denis Ivan Timbota, 7 years

Isabela Păduraru Sara Pop, 4 years

Larisa Morariu David Barbos,4 years

Matei Stefan Rădulescu Sara Barbos, 2 years

Mihnea Santimbrean Sebastian Luca Pava, 7 weeks

Cezar Simoc Radu Tanasoiu, 11 years

Daniel Solticzki Robert Pavel, 1 year

Diana Florut Loor Roxana Tintoi, 7 years

Andreea Nedelcu Alicia Dan, 1 year and 2 months

Andrei Cârstea Carina Lupu, 4 years

Andrei Dusca Daria Udriste, 4 years

Andreea și AlexandraMitrescu

Anisia Pop, 2 years

Happy Birthday!

Congratulations to the winners of the employees’ children contests from last edition of the magazine:

Anca and Flavia Bordianu, Gabriela Calin - Smithfield FermeVidrean David Robert, 6 years old – Agroalim, ClujTamas Robert, 4 years old – Agroalim, ClujDan Ioana Antonia, 9 years old -– Agroalim, ClujAlexandru Lepadat Draganicea, 6 years old - Smithfield Prod

We welcome you to send us the pictures of your children to be published, with our warmest wishes, in the next issues of our magazine, and we invite you to write us at the address Smith-field Ferme, 7-9, Cetăţii Blvd., Timișoara or Andrada.Calancea@smithfieldferme.ro and Cristina.Bodea@smithfield.ro.

Where Can We Find Comtim Products?

With a long tradition in pork processing ever since 1967, Comtim products

inspire quality and reliability for every customer and client.

For those who wish to acquire 100% Romanian fresh meat of the highest qual-

ity, Comtim products made by Smithfield Prod can be found in various loca-

tions in Timisoara:

• In the big chain stores such as: Kaufland, Real, Auchan, Selgros. Here they

are marketed under a “private brand” – but if you read the label carefully,

you will see our name written in the producer section.

• In convenience stores: Novatim – all 4 points of sale located in the follow-

ing areas: Buziasului, Dan Paltinisanu Stadium, Soarelui, Mircea cel Batran

• In traditional Butcher’s shops - Badea Cartan area Femadar; Sovian – Tra-

ian Square; Vicus Nicea - Rudolf Walter neighborhood, Ary-Progica – Lip-

ovei Street, and last but not least, in Smithfield Showroom – 4 Polona

Street.

We invite you to try our products with confidence to give your family a deli-

cious meal!

Useful AdvicesThe Chief Technologist Recommends: “HOW TO RECOGNIZE FRESH PORK”:Here are 4 indicators that help us recognize if the meat we want to buy is fresh or not:APPEARANCE: slightly moist, both on the surface and sectional; the juice (synovial liquid) left in the casserole is clear and in small amount (excess fluid and the muddy color clearly denote that meat is not fresh); when finger-touching, meat should not be sticky.

COLOR: white, pink to rosy red both on the surface and sectional, characteristic to the anatomic portion.CONSISTENCY: firm, elastic, when finger-pressing comes to the initial state, with no clear juice when pressing harder. Pale, juicy, soft meat is not fresh.SMELL: pleasant, characteristic to pork and pork bacon, unchanged (no foreign odors: mold, drugs etc.).Written by Costi Dusca, Chief Technolo-gist, Smithfield Prod